Employer Internship Information

What is an Internship Program?

An internship program places students in a working environment related to their educational pursuits. The collaborative efforts of students, employers, and the University create an enriched learning experience. These relationships also create closer liaisons among industry, higher education, and the community where students benefit from the knowledge and leadership of the employer while gaining real work experience.

How Does the Employer Benefit?

In this dynamic partnership and involvement with the student's education and training, the employer gains access to students who are well prepared and willing to work and learn.

Students can fulfill seasonal/short term needs, complete special projects, or undertake tasks that enable more experienced staff to perform other roles. The internship program can also be a cost-effective means of evaluating and screening potential employees without making a long-term commitment.

Graduates of the internship who are hired in a position where they previously worked need significantly less training and are already familiar with the organization.

Why Choose a uLethbridge New Media Intern?

A unique aspect of the U of L Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in New Media is the integration of all the fine arts with new media technology. Exploring creative abilities in a wide range of artistic media including art, writing, theatre, and music provide uLethbridge students with advanced intellectual, creative and problem solving skills, in addition to excellent technical expertise. The result is graduates with strong backgrounds in developing content in new media applications.

Students custom-design their own program. The BFA in New Media has six unrestricted electives that enable students to tailor the program to their career needs. For example, a student interested in working as a new media developer in the field of educational software or distance learning applications could take up to six applicable education courses. Someone interested in applying the technology to business advertising could take up to six management courses with a focus on marketing. With this flexibility, students develop skill sets that are unique, adaptable, and desirable.

Student Placement Process

The usual internship period is a minimum of 300 hours and not more than 400 hours, but a student may remain for a longer period, if necessary. Please mail/fax/email a description of the job you wish to fill. You may use the Placement Posting Form or your own job description form. The information is posted on the Hire a Fine Arts Student page, and the names and resumes of students interested in the posted position are forwarded to the employer or, if the employer prefers, applicants may contact them directly. We can arrange for interviews on-campus, at your facility, by telephone or video conferencing at your convenience. Notices of internship placements can be posted continuously at any time throughout the year. Organizations are encouraged to post 3 to 6 months prior to the desired starting date. Please post by:

September 1 for January-April internships

March 1 for September-December internships

Recommended Internship Compensation Guidelines

A student participating in an internship can expect to incur a considerable financial burden during the course of their work/study experience. Moving costs, food, housing, and transportation costs in addition to a semester's university tuition can make participating in an internship a prohibitive experience.

In recognition of this situation, we request that employers sponsoring a student intern provide them with a basic compensatory salary for the duration of the internship association. To this end, below are compensation guidelines divided into three employer categories: Corporate/Government, Independent, and Non- Governmental.

Corporate/Governmental - $15.00 per hour

Independent {Small Business - six employees or less} - $10.00 per hour

Non Governmental {Not for Profit} - Based on ability to pay

Mobility and Location

The University of Lethbridge has students from all across Canada and from many other countries. To take advantage of employment opportunities and to broaden their educational experience, the majority of students are willing to relocate for work terms at their own expense.

Evaluation

Students are evaluated by employers and program administrators, and go through a self-evaluation process. An Employer Evaluation form will be sent out at the end of the student's internship. The employer will complete this formal online evaluation at the end of the student's internship. The student also completes an internship report.